We are receiving lots of fur donations for our Cuddle Coats program and want to ship them to our wildlife rehab partners as soon as possible. Meet at the ARC office (co-located with Ethique Nouveau) at 317 W 48th St. in Minneapolis at 6:00 pm to help prep fur coats and accessories for shipment. Wear clothes that can get a little fuzzy. This is a great, low key way to volunteer and meet some of the other people in the group while helping to save animal lives.

We are receiving lots of fur donations for our Cuddle Coats program and want to ship them to our wildlife rehab partners as soon as possible. Meet at the ARC office (co-located with Ethique Nouveau) at 317 W 48th St. in Minneapolis at 6:00 pm to help prep fur coats and accessories for shipment. Wear clothes that can get a little fuzzy. This is a great, low key way to volunteer and meet some of the other people in the group while helping to save animal lives.

ARC In Action meetings are held every first and third Wednesday of the month from 7-8pm at our vegan store and ARC office, Ethique Nouveau, located at 317 W. 48th St. in South Minneapolis (on 48th St. between Lyndale and Nicollet). Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an ARC member or vegan or vegetarian to attend. Come out, meet other people who care about animals as much as you do, and see how you can get involved. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Chelsea at chelsea@animalrightscoalition.com.

ARC In Action meetings are held every first and third Wednesday of the month from 7-8pm at our vegan store and ARC office, Ethique Nouveau, located at 317 W. 48th St. in South Minneapolis (on 48th St. between Lyndale and Nicollet). Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an ARC member or vegan or vegetarian to attend. Come out, meet other people who care about animals as much as you do, and see how you can get involved. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail Chelsea at chelsea@animalrightscoalition.com.

Stop by the ARC booth at the Midtown Farmers Market from 8:00 AM-1:00 PM on Saturday 8/8. The market is at Lake St. E and 22nd Ave. S. We\'ll be giving out info about how to go vegan and recipes for using all the veggies people get at the market, and talking to people about famed animal issues. Visit http://www.midtownfarmersmarket.org/ for more info.

Stop by the ARC booth at the Midtown Farmers Market from 8:00 AM-1:00 PM on Saturday 8/8. The market is at Lake St. E and 22nd Ave. S. We'll be giving out info about how to go vegan and recipes for using all the veggies people get at the market, and talking to people about famed animal issues. Visit http://www.midtownfarmersmarket.org/ for more info.

If you have to be picky about which protests you attend, pick this one from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Petland store at 2123 Old Hudson Road in St. Paul. Help send a message loud and clear that we are not going away until Petland stops selling animals from commercial breeders. Even if you can only come for part of the protest, please try to make it. The animals need you to help educate the public on their behalf. Invite your friends. Help us spread the word. Remember that we do not park or trespass in the Petland parking lot. Parking is available in the St. Paul Youth Services lot to the north of the strip mall. More info and RSVP at Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Minnesota-Animal-Rights-Meetup/

If you have to be picky about which protests you attend, pick this one from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Petland store at 2123 Old Hudson Road in St. Paul. Help send a message loud and clear that we are not going away until Petland stops selling animals from commercial breeders. Even if you can only come for part of the protest, please try to make it. The animals need you to help educate the public on their behalf. Invite your friends. Help us spread the word. Remember that we do not park or trespass in the Petland parking lot. Parking is available in the St. Paul Youth Services lot to the north of the strip mall. More info and RSVP at Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Minnesota-Animal-Rights-Meetup/

North Vegans will be hosting a Soul Food & Southern Cooking: Vegan Style cooking class on Saturday, August 8 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Parkway United Church of Christ, 3120 Washburn Ave. N in Minneapolis. This free cooking class is limited to the first 15 participants, and preference will be given to North Minneapolis residents. RSVP by emailing chelsea@animalrightscoalition.com

North Vegans will be hosting a Soul Food & Southern Cooking: Vegan Style cooking class on Saturday, August 8 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Parkway United Church of Christ, 3120 Washburn Ave. N in Minneapolis. This free cooking class is limited to the first 15 participants, and preference will be given to North Minneapolis residents. RSVP by emailing chelsea@animalrightscoalition.com

You\'ve heard about circus protests and the criticisms circuses receive for having wild animals in their shows. But what about the domestic animals? What about the announcement Ringling made about \"retiring\" their elephants in three years? If things are that bad, why isn\'t there a law against it? We\'ll go over some of the most commonly cited arguments so you\'ll be prepared to speak to folks who don\'t yet have all the facts. We\'ll go over the current state of animal circuses in the United States and around the globe, and we\'ll talk about local efforts here to raise awareness around both circuses and the exotic animal rides at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Event is at Augsburg Park Library meeting room, 7100 Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis from noon to 2:00pm. RSVP at Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Minnesota-Animal-Rights-Meetup/events/223791631/

You've heard about circus protests and the criticisms circuses receive for having wild animals in their shows. But what about the domestic animals? What about the announcement Ringling made about "retiring" their elephants in three years? If things are that bad, why isn't there a law against it? We'll go over some of the most commonly cited arguments so you'll be prepared to speak to folks who don't yet have all the facts. We'll go over the current state of animal circuses in the United States and around the globe, and we'll talk about local efforts here to raise awareness around both circuses and the exotic animal rides at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Event is at Augsburg Park Library meeting room, 7100 Nicollet Ave. in Minneapolis from noon to 2:00pm. RSVP at Minnesota Animal Rights Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Minnesota-Animal-Rights-Meetup/events/223791631/

The Animal Rights Coalition operates Ethique Nouveau; a vegan boutique, where all purchases help fund our animal advocacy programs, at 317 W. 48th St. in Minneapolis. The ARC office is located at the same address.

Pound Seizure Now Banned in Minnesota!

April 30th, 2012

It’s a historic day for animals in Minnesota. Pound seizure, legal in Minnesota since 1949, is now banned under the Omnibus Agriculture bill, HF2398/SF2061, which was approved by Governor Mark Dayton over the weekend. Pound seizure allowed any animal in a publicly funded shelter for more than five days to be claimed by a laboratory for experimentation. The new bill states: “A person must not release an animal seized and held under this section for research or product testing, either directly or through an animal dealer.”

The Animal Rights Coalition (ARC) worked with Howard Goldman, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) State Director for Minnesota to help bring about passage of this bill.

ARC formed End Pound Seizure Minnesota (EPSM), created a web site, obtained thousands of signatures against pound seizure, and brought awareness of the issue to the public through outreach and education. Amy Draeger, attorney and President of EPSM wrote original legislation and conducted historical research on pound seizure in Minnesota. Over a number of years, ARC made numerous requests for information under the Minnesota Data Practices Act to document usage of the pound seizure law.

ARC passed on all its research on the issue and its original legislation to Howard, who obtained authors for the bill in the legislature and tirelessly lobbied for its passage throughout the two-year legislative session. Howard was able to meet with past institutional opponents of the bill and persuade them not to oppose it, which was a major step towards successful passage of the bill.

We’re so thankful that ARC was able to work with Howard and HSUS in securing this victory for animals in Minnesota – and we’re especially thankful that no longer will lost and unclaimed animals in Minnesota be in danger of being released to institutions for experimentation.